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Frank Drake

  • Playing Career

Playing Career

All information provided below is based only on data available in the RLP database and should be used as a guide only.

Vital Statistics

Position(s)
Fullback
Born
Wednesday, 15th February, 1939
Current Age
87 years and 197 days

Competitions Won

Interstate Series
1959, 1960
Bulimba Cup
1959, 1960, 1961, 1962, 1963, 1964

Biography

Balmain junior, captain of the club’s President Cup team in 1957, played fullback for the Tigers in 1958 as understudy to Keith Barnes. Drake moved to Queensland to further his career and played for Brisbane Souths. There he represented Queensland in three consecutive years before touring NZ with the Australian team in 1961 and made his Test debut. Against Great Britain in the Third Test in 1962 he grabbed a unique piece of rugby league history when he scored the first try by an Australian fullback in 54 years of Ashes clashes. Although he represented Queensland against NZ in 1963 Drake missed selection with the Ashes-winning 1963-64 Kangaroos and returned to Sydney later spent two seasons with Easts.
- ALAN WHITICKER

Playing Career Statistics

To view a list of corresponding matches, click on the List button.

Representative Career - International Comp WinsStartsIntAPP3ST3PTTG2FGFGPtsBin5BinOffWLDWin% 
Tests (Senior International Matches) -2-21-1---3---2--100.00%List
The Ashes -1-11-1---3---1--100.00%List
Tour MatchesToowoombaTMB-2-22-2---6----110.00%List
Tour MatchesQueensland FirstsQFI-3-31-1---3---12-33.33%List
Tour MatchesAustraliaAUS-8-810-10---30---71-87.50%List
Tour MatchesBrisbane FirstsBRF-2-21-1---3----2-0.00%List
Test Series -2-21-1---3---2--100.00%List
Representative Career - Australia Comp WinsStartsIntAPP3ST3PTTG2FGFGPtsBin5BinOffWLDWin% 
Interstate Series 218-184-4---12---512127.78%List
Bulimba Cup 620-2015-151--47---173-85.00%List
Club Career - Australia Comp WinsStartsIntAPP3ST3PTTG2FGFGPtsBin5BinOffWLDWin% 
Country Carnival --111-1---3---1--100.00%List
NSWRFL (NRL Premiership) -32-326-6---18---923-28.13%List
NRL Finals -2-21-1---3---11-50.00%List
Preseason Cup -6-6----------15-16.67%List
Overall StartsIntAPP3ST3PTTG2FGFGPtsBin5BinOffWLDWin% 
First Class 71-7124-24---72---2346232.39%List

Test Matches - By Team

TeamYears StartsIntAPP3ST3PTTG2FGFGPtsBin5BinOffWLDWin% 
Australia1961-62 2-21-1---3---2--100.00%List

Australia - By Team

TeamYears StartsIntAPP3ST3PTTG2FGFGPtsBin5BinOffWLDWin% 
Toowoomba1959-60 10-108-8---24---63160.00%List
QLD Firsts1959-63 21-215-5---15---614128.57%List
Brisbane Firsts1961-63 14-1410-101--32---113-78.57%List

NSWRFL (NRL Premiership) - By Year

TeamSeason StartsIntAPP3ST3PTTG2FGFGPtsBin5BinOffWLDWin% 
BalmainBalmain19581958 NSWRFL 12-125-5---15---66-50.00%List
Eastern SuburbsEastern Suburbs19641964 NSWRFL 14-141-1---3---212-14.29%List
Eastern SuburbsEastern Suburbs19651965 NSWRFL 6-6----------15-16.67%List

NSWRFL (NRL Premiership) - By Team

TeamYears StartsIntAPP3ST3PTTG2FGFGPtsBin5BinOffWLDWin% 
Balmain1958 12-125-5---15---66-50.00%List
Eastern Suburbs1964-65 20-201-1---3---317-15.00%List

Your Say

  • Michael Gray
    5 Oct 2012 2:24pm

    Frank was the first footballer to wear coloured boots. He wore white boots onto the SCG and maroon boots when representing QLD. Perhaps more significantly, Frank, known variously as "Twinlke Toes' and 'The Elvis Presley of Rugby League" , invented the cut down boot. He had his bootmaker neighbour install studs on his running shoes. It is believed this was the first time anywhere in the world this innovation had ocurred. Frank was the heir apparent to Clive Churchill and sadly at the peak of his game, broke his hip as captain of Easts and he never recovered the pace that had made him such a devastating full back.

  • steve gordon
    27 Aug 2013 7:51am

    played for brisbane brothers in 1967. missed playing in 67 grand final hurt.

  • steve gordon
    31 Aug 2013 11:56pm

    frank played for brisbane brothers in 1967.missed the grand final with injury. morrie pinfold who later went to st george was his replacement.

  • Gordon Barlow
    26 Apr 2014 3:27pm

    He was the most exciting Rugby player I have ever seen. My Dad and I discovered him when we began watching the weekly club matches in Toowoomba in the late 1950s, and we immediately adopted the All Whites as "our" team. He was sheer magic to watch, every game. I left Toowoomba and Australia in 1963, and apart from the fact that he married a second-cousin of mine I never encountered his name again. But I remember it well. Thanks for the memory.

  • Anonymous
    27 Apr 2018 6:39am

    Besides being a great Rugby League veteran and former fine player of the game, Frank is a wonderful ambassador for the game. A gentleman.

  • Lyle
    5 May 2018 8:43pm

    The most exciting fullback ever along with Clive Churchill. His forays into the backline had the spectators on their feet at most games he played for Brisbane Souths & for Queensland. Brilliant player.

  • Anonymous
    19 Aug 2018 4:00pm

    Just.had.lunch.with.Frank..wonderful.to.spent.so.time.with.him..Thank.you.frank..Glen.m

  • John
    20 Sep 2018 11:54am

    Frank Drake was noted on the field for his " bodgie" haircut and colourful style. I remember Tiger Black going berserk when he scored his try in the 1960 Test and nearly scored another.

  • Terry Frawley
    2 Oct 2022 7:54pm

    My year six hero when he played for All Whites in Toowoomba. Then my friend and debut ball mate with Jan and Marg. Had so many arguments with dad over his lairy cut off boots the first l say. Stay well

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Contributions: Shawn Dollin, Andrew Ferguson, Paul Carter, Greg Fiveash, Max Turner, Rugby League Tables, Alan Katzmann, Bill Bates, AJ Lucantonio